Building construction



Jan. 31, 196E T. J. BOTTOM BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 7, 1959 THEODORE J. BOTTOM ATTORNEYS BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Theodore J. Bottom, Kirkwood, Mo. Aluma Kraft gganufacturing Co., 1330 N. Rock Hill Road, St. Louis Filed Jan. 7, H59, Ser. No. 785,496

1 Claim. (Cl. 98-37) This invention relates generally to improvements in a building construction, and more particularly to an improved rafter ventilator in such construction.

In most buildings, it is desirable and sometimes necessary to provide air passages between the roof rafters and the outside walls in order to obtain ventilation of the attic or the area immediately beneath the roof. However, serious problems exist in keeping birds from entering such air passages in their quest for nesting places and in precluding foreign objects from blowing or otherwise entering in through such passages.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a ventilator for the space between the rafters and the outer wall which is capable of preventing all undesirable foreign objects from entering the building and yet capable of permitting the free flow of air for Ventilation purposes.

Another important objective is achieved in providing a ventilator that is capable of being quickly and easily adjusted to accommodate the spacing between individual rafters.

The above important advantages are realized by constructing the ventilator of a pair of plate members that are telescopically connected to permit lengthwise adjustment. The plate members are provided with a plurality of small apertures that enable the passage of air and yet preclude entry of objectionable foreign objects.

Still another important objective is realized by the structural arrangement of the ventilator with the rafters and outer wall which affords an improved building construction.

Yet another important object is achieved by the connection and arrangement of the ventilator on the outer wall of the building construction so that it provides an abutment for the top of the siding provided on the outer wall.

An important object is to provide a ventilator that is of simple and durable construction, economical to manu facture, efiicient in operation, and capable of being readily assembled in a building construction.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the building construction illustrating the attachment of the ventilator;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the ventilator shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a view partly in cross section of the building construction illustrating the ventilator in side elevation.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to Fig. 1, in which the building construction is illustrated, it is seen that the ventilator generally indicated at is disposed in the space between the roof and the outer wall in a manner to preclude entry of any foreign objects and yet permit free flow of air.

Patented. Jan. 31, 1961 The outer wall referred to generally at 11 in Figs. 1 and 3, includes a top bearing plate 12 usually disposed in a horizontal plane. As is usual, the outer wall 11 includes vertical studs 13 one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In the particular wall construction illustrated in Fig. 3, siding 14 is attached to the bearing plate 12 and studs 13 at the outermost side.

Supported on the top bearing plate 12 are a plurality of rafters 15 arranged in spaced relation. These rafters 15 may be disposed in parallel or non-parallel relation. It is clear that the roof structure (not shown) is disposed and attached to the top of these rafters 15 in the conventional manner.

With the building construction described above, it will be noted that an air passage is provided between the rafters 15 and the top bearing plate 12. As has been explained previously, provision of such air passages is desirable, and at times necessary, in order to afford venti lation for the attic or the space immediately below the roof. The ventilator 10 is utilized in this structure to preclude the entry of foreign objects and yet permit the free passage of air into and out of the attic.

The ventilator 10 consists of a pair of plate members 16 and 17 arranged in overlapping relation. The upper margins 26 and 21 respectively of members 16 and 17 are reversely turned and adapted to interfit as is best shown in Fig. 3. These lower margins of members 16 and 17 are provided with inturned bottom flanges 22 and 23 respectively. It will be noted that the member 16 slidably interfits and engages the member 17, the re versely turned margin 20 being received in reversely turned margin 21 and the bottom flange 22 riding on the bottom flange 23. With this structural arrangement the members 16 and 17 are telescopically related so as to permit lengthwise adjustment to accommodate the spacing between the rafters 15.

Each member 16 and 17 is provided with an inturned end flange 24 adapted to engage one of the rafters 15.

The members 16 and 17 of ventilator 10 are provided with a series of vertical narrow apertures 25 for substantially their entire length. These apertures 25 permit the free flow of air through plates 16 and 17.

When assembling the ventilator 10, the members 16 and 17 are adjusted telescopically so that their combined length is exactly the same as the distance between a pair of adjacent rafters 15. Then the ventilator 10 is placed between the rafters 15, as is illustrated in Fig. 1, with the end flanges 24 abutting rafters 15 and the bottom flanges 2223 seating on the top bearing plate 12. Nails or other fastening elements can be utilized to secure the members 16 and 17 to the rafters 15 and bearing plate 12.

It will be noted that the plate members 16 and 17 extend the entire distance between rafters 15 and extend from bearing plate 12 to the top of rafters 15 so as to block effectively the passage between the rafters and the outer wall. The apertures 25 permit the flow of air through the plate members 16 and 17 and hence permit ventilation of the space immediately below the roof.

In one type of building construction, the bottom flanges 22 and 23 extend outwardly from the top bearing plate as is illustrated in Fig. 3, in order to provide a top abutment for the siding 14.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

In a building construction, an outside wall having a top bearing plate and siding on its outermost side, a

plurality of rafter supported on said bearing plate in spaced relation, a ventilator consisting of a pair of plate members arranged in overlapping position, said members having rolled edges slidably interfitting to connect said members telescopically for lengthwise adjustment, said members extending between said rafters and extending from the bearing plate to the top of said rafters, an inturned flange on each of said members engaging said rafters, means attaching the inturned flanges to said rafters, the members each including an inturned bottom flange seating on the bearing plate, the bottom flanges providing an abutment engaging the top of said siding, the plate members being disposed flush with the outer surface of said siding so as to provide a vertical continuation, the members being provided with a plurality of small apertures for the passage of air.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,449,294 Respess Mar. 20, 1923 1,651,071 Scheppers Nov. 29, 1927 2,201,830 Hofier May 21, 1940- 2,355,536 Jenness Aug. 8, 1944 2,885,942 Hirst May 12, 1959 

